Rods

In days gone by, most specialist marker rods had soft tips, which apparently gave you a better feel of the knocks, taps and glides fed back through your line. However, what actually happened was that a soft tip cushioned a lot of the feel, so they did in fact defeat the object. Then, a few years back, somebody finally twigged and made marker rods with tips of the correct stiffness. Bingo, even more recently somebody twigged that this made them a bit more like spod rods and, hey presto, out came some combination rods such as this one.

• Awesome black cosmetics• Super-slow oscillation for great line lay• Quick-drag spool• Free spare spool AND handlePrice: £134. 99Website: www. angling-direct. co.

TC Reader Matthew Rynor says: I recently received the Dwarf rods for my 13th birthday present and decided to send my review in to Total Carp. Due to my small size I find 12ft rods a bit of a handful, so the Dwarfs are great. I have fished up to 50 yards with a baited rig, as they lend themselves much better to the small waters I fish. I couple them with small Baitrunner reels, making the setup lightweight.

Since the release of the original Baitrunner from Shimano in the 1980s, 25 years of development, research and passion has pushed them to the launch of the brand-new Baitrunner X-Aero models. Combining the much-loved traditional Baitrunner free-spool leaver with a more modern and desirable large ‘Aero Concept’ spool results in the next evolutionary step for Baitrunners, offering the attractive characteristics of big-pit reels but with the smooth fish-playing attributes associated with Baitrunners. The larger spool also helps to increase the retrieval distance to just less than a metre with one turn. Utilising Aero Wrap II technology and a two-speed oscillation ensures precise line lay, aiding in casting and general line care.

Max Hendry’s verdict. . . 'Bulletproof and a pleasure to use'.

I, like so many people, used to own a set of the original Shimano Big Pits and benefited from years of their indestructible nature, huge cranking power and, of course, the Baitrunner system. More recent models have followed in this tradition but, like the original, they have been a little on the bulky and heavy side. This new version, made with Shimano’s excellent Ci4 material to reduce weight, is absolutely superb. Available in big and medium sizes there is a reel out of the two to suit all angling situations.